Apple tree named &#39;UEB 42723&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Malus domestica (Borkh.) ornamental variety that exhibits a columnar tree growth type, compact growth habit, Vƒ-resistance against scab, attractive red-purple flowers, greyed-purple young leaves, green mature leaves, and small, red colored, obloid shaped fruits that persist on the tree after the fall of leaves into Winter. The new variety is suitable for home apple growing as solitary trees and can be useful for pollinating purposes.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Serial No. 62/600,978, filed on Mar. 8, 2017, entitled“Varieties of Apple Trees”’, the entire disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference.

Botanical classification: Malus domestica (Borkh.)

Varietal denomination: ‘UEB 42723’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of appletree botanically classified as Malus domestica (Borkh.) and known by thevarietal name ‘UEB 42723’.

The new variety is the result of a cross in a planned breeding programbetween ‘Evereste’ (female parent, unpatented) and ‘Maypole’ (maleparent, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,184). The cross resulting in ‘UEB 42723’occurred in the Spring of 2003 at 310 meters above sea level with a meanannual temperature of 7.7° C. and a mean annual precipitation of 680 mm.The purpose of the breeding program was to develop an ornamental applevariety having a unique appearance with a columnar tree growth type thatexhibits V_(ƒ)-resistance against scab. The new variety was discoveredin 2009 with the first flowering and fruiting of the original seedlingin the Czech Republic. Subsequently, the new variety was asexuallyreproduced in the Czech Republic by budding/grafting on apple rootstocksin the Spring of 2014.

The new variety is similar to its female parent, ‘Evereste’, inexhibiting small fruits with no russeting present and V_(ƒ)-resistanceagainst scab. However, ‘UEB 42723’ exhibits a columnar tree growth type,red-purple flower petals, and red fruit skin color, while ‘Evereste’exhibits a ramified tree growth type, white flower petals, and yellowfruit skin color with an orange to red blush present. The new variety issimilar to its male parent, ‘Maypole’, in exhibiting a columnar treegrowth type, red-purple flower petals, and long fruit stalk. However,‘UEB 42723’ exhibits longer persisting fruits than ‘Maypole’ that areovoid in shape and leaves that are ovate in shape with a serrate Type 2to biserrate margin, while the fruits of ‘Maypole’ are round-conical inshape and its leaves are elongated in shape with a crenate margin.

Further, when compared to apple tree named ‘UEB 42721’ (U.S. Plant Pat.application concurrently applied-for herewith), both varieties exhibit acolumnar tree growth type and V_(ƒ)-resistance against scab. However,‘UEB 42723’ exhibits a compact growth habit and an ovoid fruit shape,while ‘UEB 42721’ exhibits a more erect growth habit and a broadlyglobose fruit shape.

The following characteristics also distinguish the new variety fromother varieties known to the breeders:

-   -   Late ripening, ornamental, diploid variety;    -   Columnar tree growth type;    -   Compact growth habit with short internodes;    -   Weak to medium tree vigor;    -   Red-purple colored flowers;    -   Early to medium time to beginning of flowering;    -   Greyed-purple color of young leaves and green tinted color of        mature leaves;    -   Fruit is medium in size and ovoid in shape with slight ribbing;    -   Long time of fruit persistence; and    -   Resistance against scab on V_(ƒ)-gene basis.

The new variety has been trial and field tested and has been found toretain its distinctive characteristics and remain true to type throughsuccessive asexual propagations.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic drawings illustrate the new cultivar withthe color being as nearly true as possible with color illustrations ofthis type. It should be noted that colors may vary with growingconditions and time of year:

FIG. 1 illustrates a section of the vertical trunk of the new variety,showing details of its ornamental fruits;

FIG. 2 illustrates details of fruits of the new variety;

FIG. 3 illustrates a young tree of the new variety grafted on MM 106rootstock, demonstrating that the fruits are persistent on the treeafter its leaves fall into Winter;

FIG. 4 illustrates a young tree of the new variety grafted on MM 106rootstock, at first flower opening;

FIG. 5 illustrates a section of the vertical trunk of the new variety,showing predominantly unopened flowers at the beginning of blossomingtime;

FIG. 6 illustrates a young tree of the new variety grafted on MM 106rootstock, with fully opened flowers;

FIG. 7 illustrates details of fully opened flowers of the new variety;

FIG. 8 illustrates a young tree of the new variety grafted on MM 106rootstock, at the end of blossoming time;

FIG. 9 illustrates a growing shoot of the new variety; and

FIG. 10 illustrates a close-up view of a mature leaf and a young leaf ofthe new variety.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following detailed description sets forth characteristics of the newcultivar. The new variety was grown under natural field conditions inThe Czech Republic. The following fertilizer combination was used(Kg/ha/year): 55 parts nitrogen, 25 parts phosphorous, 60 partspotassium, 55 parts calcium, and 5 parts magnesium. Color references areprimarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Societyof London and were identified under natural light.

-   Tree:    -   -   Age.—Approximately 3 years.        -   Size.—Crown height of 1.6 m, width of 0.25 m.        -   Vigor.—Medium.        -   Density.—High.        -   Form.—Erect and compact.        -   Production.—Very precocious.        -   Growth type.—Columnar.        -   Bearing.—Annual; predominantly on spurs.        -   Trunk.—Size: Approximately 4.0 cm in diameter at 30.0 cm            from the soil line. Surface texture: Smooth. Bark color:            Greyed-Orange Group RHS 166A. Lenticels (50.0 cm above            ground): Length: 1.0 mm to 2.0 mm. Width: 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm.            Color: Greyed-Orange Group RHS 164C. Density: Variable, with            5 to 7 lenticels on average per 1 cm².        -   Branches.—Not applicable — absent. The variety lacks a            conventional branching system along the tree trunk.        -   Leaves.—Length: About 60.0 mm to about 86.0 mm, averaging            69.0 mm. Width: About 38.0 mm to about 51.0 mm, averaging            about 45.0 mm. Form: Ovate. Texture: Smooth. Thickness:            Thin. Base: Rounded and asymmetric. Apex: Acuminate. Margin:            Serrate Type 2 to biserrate. Pubescence: Upper surface: None            present. Lower surface: Very fine. Color: Young leaves:            Upper surface: Greyed-Purple Group RHS 183A. Lower surface:            Greyed-Purple Group RHS 183D. Mature leaves: Upper surface:            Green Group RHS 139A, combined with some Greyed-Purple Group            RHS 187A. Lower surface: Green Group RHS 137C, combined with            some Greyed-Purple Group RHS 185C. Petiole: Shape: Straight,            with thickening and flattening at the base. Length: About            27.0 mm to 38.0 mm, averaging about 32.0 mm. Diameter: About            1.0 mm in the middle. Color: Red-Purple Group RHS 59A to            59B. Veins: Venation type: Palmate, medium dense. Color:            Upper surface: Greyed-Purple Group RHS 186A. Lower surface:            Greyed-Purple Group RHS 187A to 187B.        -   Flower buds.—Pedicel: Length: Typically in the range of 26.0            mm to 38.0 mm, with an average of 32.0 mm. Diameter: 1.1 mm            on average. Color: Predominantly Red-Purple Group RHS 59A.            Bud: Length: 14.0 mm on average. Width: 10.0 mm on average.            Color: Predominantly Red-Purple Group RHS 59B to 59C.        -   Flowers.—Bloom timing: Early to medium. Blooming period:            Medium. Pollination requirements: Self-sterile, needs            pollinators. Number of flowers per cluster: 5 to 7.            Fragrance: Faint. Petals: Number: 5. Length: From 22.0 mm to            28.0 mm, with an average of 25.0 mm. Width: From 20.0 mm to            24.0 mm, with an average of 21.0 mm. Shape: Round to            slightly oval. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Mucronate. Aspect:            Positioned overlapping. Margin: Entire. Texture and            appearance: Soft and smooth. Color: When opening: Upper            surface: Red-Purple Group RHS 63B. Lower surface: Red-Purple            Group RHS 63B to 63C. Fully opened: Upper surface:            Red-Purple Group RHS 62B. Lower surface: Red-Purple Group            RHS 62C. Sepals: Shape: Long-conical; pointed. Margin:            Entire. Texture: Finely pubescent (colorless). Length:            Average of 7.0 mm from the union. Width: 3.0 mm in the            middle. Color: Upper surface: Yellow-Green Group RHS 144B,            with a Red-Purple Group RHS 59A apex. Lower surface:            Red-Purple Group RHS 59B, with a with a Red-Purple Group RHS            59A apex. Stamens: Number (per flower): Average of 19.            Filament length: 6.0 mm to 9.0 mm. Anthers: Shape: Oval.            Length: 2.0 mm. Color: Yellow Group RHS 10C. Pollen: Color:            Yellow Group RHS 10B. Amount (generally): Medium to high.            Pistils: Length: 12.0 mm on average. Style: Length: 9.0 mm            on average. Color: Red Group RHS 51C. Stigma: Shape:            Rounded. Color: Red Group RHS 38A.        -   Fruit.—Data currently unavailable.        -   Use.—As an ornamental variety having a columnar tree growth            type.        -   Shipping quality.—Not applicable — ornamental variety.        -   Keeping quality.—Not applicable — ornamental variety.        -   Tree winter hardiness.—No frost damage observed at the place            of origin, lowest winter temperatures approximately −20° C.        -   Bud winter hardiness.—No frost damage observed at the place            of origin, lowest winter temperatures approximately −20° C.        -   Drought tolerance.—Unknown.        -   Disease resistance.—V_(ƒ)-resistance against scab.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Malus domestica (Borkh.) appletree plant substantially as is herein described and illustrated.